"Okay." Johann hung up the call and proceeded to inform the neurosurgery nurses to prepare the operating room. Then, he
notified the surgical assistant he needed to help him with the surgery.
Ten minutes later, Johann arrived at Old Man Rayne's ward in a rush. After nodding at Luke and Luca, he approached the elderly
man and conducted a thorough examination.
Following a routine examination, Johann reviewed the reports. The diagnosis remained consistent with his earlier assessment.
He turned to Luke and said, "We need to proceed with the surgery immediately. His family members should come along and sign
the consent form at the entrance to the operating room."
Before Johann arrived at the hospital, he already arranged for the nurses on duty to prepare all the necessary documents and to
be on stand-by outside the operating room. Hence, when the patient was taken there, the family could sign the consent form
promptly. It would save a lot of time.
As soon as Johann gave his instructions, the nurses entered the room to shave Old Man Rayne's hair.
Since Old Man Rayne did not have much hair, it only took a few strokes for the nurse to shave all his white hair.
Johann marked Old Man Rayne's head with a pen and said, "Take him to the operating room."
Everyone sprang into action when they heard this. The nurse pushed Old Man Rayne's bed downstairs while Johann explained
to Luke and Luca the details of the upcoming surgery.
Luke did not fully understand it, but it did not stop him from staying by Luca's side.
On the other hand, Luca listened attentively to what Johann said.
Even though Luca did not understand surgical procedures, she caught the idea of how Johann planned to operate on Old Man
Rayne.
They arrived at the entrance to the operating room.
The nurse handed the consent form to Johann and said, "Dr. Park, this is the consent form for the surgery."
Johann took it, handed it to Luke, and said, "Only you can sign this consent form now. I can explain further if there's anything you
don't understand."
"No need. I'll sign it," replied Luke. He took the consent form and pen, signing his name on the designated spot for a family
member's signature.
Luca could not reveal her true identity at the moment. Hence, Luke had to sign the consent form for her. Moreover, he believed
Johann would do everything in his power to help Old Man Rayne through this difficult time.
After the form was signed, the nurse nodded and entered the operating room.
"Old Man Rayne's life is in your hands now," Luke said to Johann solemnly, entrusting the elderly man's life to him.
"I'll do my best," replied Johann. Operating on an elderly patient carried significant risks.
However, there would be greater risks if Old Man Rayne did not undergo the surgery. Johann could not guarantee a full recovery
for Old Man Rayne, but he would not give up as long as there was a chance.
Johann entered the operating room. His figure receded into the distance.
The operating room door closed slowly, leaving Luca standing there in a daze. In the depths of her heart, there brewed a
resentment for herself and Abel.
She did not even have the qualification to sign the consent form!
All of this was caused by Abel.
Luca's hand fell weakly to her side.
Luke held her hand tight and said, "Let's sit down and wait."
Luca nodded, feeling physically and emotionally exhausted. As she gazed at Luke's side profile, she noticed a hint of stubble on
his face.
There was no way they could sleep tonight.
They spent the whole night there. Luca could not bear to let Luke wait here alone. Given her current identity, she could go home
and get some rest, but Luke could not. She pursed her lips as she sat on a chair outside the operating room.
This was the same spot where she had waited for Wanda to come out of surgery.
The hospital was exceptionally quiet early in the morning, and so was the operating room.
Doctors would not schedule surgeries at night unless it was an emergency. Thus, apart from Luca, Luke, and the caretaker, no
one else was sitting on the seats outside the operating room.
The caretaker was also anxious. If something happened to Old Man Rayne, her days ahead would be tough.
Therefore, she clasped her hands together and silently prayed for Old Man Rayne's well-being.
Luca lowered her gaze, overwhelmed with worry. She was not sleepy, but her body and nerves were tired, and the tiredness was
sweeping over her.
Luke glanced at the time. It was already past one in the morning.
Johann had said that Old Man Rayne's surgery would not finish anytime soon.
Luke said to Luca with a hushed voice, "Rest your head on my shoulder for a while if you feel tired."
If he did not know Luca's true identity, he might have urged her to go back by now.
However, he knew that Luca's true identity was Bianca. No matter how reluctant he was to see Luca staying up late and the tired
look on her face, he would not persuade her to leave.
How could she, such a kind-hearted woman, leave behind Old Man Rayne, someone who had taken care of her for over ten
years, and go home to sleep?
"I'm fine," replied Luca as she leaned her head gently against Luke's shoulder. She was not sleepy. She was just exhausted...
Hence, she needed a shoulder to soothe the emotions swirling inside her.
They held each other's hands tightly. It was as though they were giving each other courage.
Luca intended to take a short rest. While she was enveloped in a cloud of drowsiness, she felt herself entering a chaotic space.
She saw Old Man Rayne...
"Grandpa, Grandpa..." Luca called out for him uncontrollably.
Startled by her call, Old Man Rayne turned around. The confused look that was on his face turned into a smile the moment he
saw Luca. He asked with a hint of doubt, "Luca, are you calling me?"
Luca was overwhelmed with emotions. She nodded vigorously with tears streaming down her face. "Grandpa, it's me. I'm
Bianca."
"Bianca?" Old Man Rayne frowned. Then, a gentle smile spread across his wrinkled face. "You're Bianca. Oh, Bianca, how much
you've changed over the years. I almost couldn't recognize you. Come, let me have a closer look at you. I've missed you so
much."
"Grandpa, I'm sorry. I couldn't be by your side to take care of you when something happened to you..." Luca could feel that her
face was wet with tears as she touched them.
Step by step, she walked to Old Man Rayne's side, crouching down to meet the gaze of the old man sitting in the wheelchair.
Old Man Rayne touched her face. His wrinkled hand was gently resting on her head. "You're really Bianca. You look different, but
I know you're still Bianca."
Luca felt a lump in her throat. Her tears poured down like rain. "Grandpa, it's all my fault..."
"Why would it be your fault? There must be a reason why you've changed your appearance. I don't blame you. Bianca, I'm
getting old. I'm satisfied that I'm able to catch a glimpse of you at this moment. I'm willing to go wherever God wants me to go. I
have no more worries.”
Luca's heart suddenly felt uneasy. She gripped the wheelchair's armrest tightly, fearing that Old Man Rayne would disappear
before her eyes the next second. "Grandpa, please don't say such things. You're not allowed to go anywhere. I haven't had the
chance to take care of you yet!"
"I'm happy enough to know that you have the thought. Bianca, some departures are beyond our control. Life and death follow a
predetermined course, bound by the hand of destiny. I'm happy that I can see you before my time comes. Bianca, you must live
a happy life in the future, alright? Even if I pass away, I'll be watching over you from above, protecting you and making sure
nobody dares to bully you." Old Man Rayne looked at Luca with eyes full of affection and spoke slowly. It was like the times when
he used to tell her bedtime stories in a soft voice to lull her into sweet dreams.